In this month’s Gosforth Nature Reserve Journal, NHSN naturalist, Christopher Wren, shares the life of a fox cub!
Fox cubs grow up and become independent quickly, especially when compared with badger cubs (which stay within the clan) and otter cubs (which stay with their mother for up to a year). Fox cubs are born in the den in March, usually in a litter of 4-6. The cubs first venture above ground at about five weeks of age and are weaned by 6-8 weeks. They leave the den at around 8-9 weeks and their parents will bring food until the cubs are about four months old, by which time their second teeth are complete and they can find food for themselves, mainly invertebrates at that stage. When they are young they are often together in groups but they begin to forage alone in August and will be full grown by September.
The first video shows a vixen and her cubs in Gosforth Nature Reserve in May when the cubs were still suckling. The mother must have called to them but the sound was not picked up by the camera. At this age they have grey-brown fur.
On another occasion the vixen called to the cubs and then disappeared underground. The cubs emerged from a different entrance and ran across to look for her. I don’t know if this was a deliberate game of hide and seek.
When the cubs are young they stay close to the den and spend a lot of time together, often play-fighting to develop their strength and co-ordination, practice hunting behaviour and establish a social hierarchy.
By mid June the cubs have developed their foxy red coats. The last video was recorded near the den with two cubs out exploring and becoming a bit more independent.
Young male foxes will usually leave their parents’ territory before the end of their first year whereas young females are more likely to stay for longer. Eventually both will need to find their own territory if they are to produce cubs of their own.